The 39th ATC, themed "Partnering Strategically, Winning Globally", brought together Turkish and American businesspeople, government officials, academics, and civil society representatives in Washington, D.C. on May 9-10, 2024. The event was organized in collaboration with the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK)/Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the American Turkish Business Roundtable (ATBR). More than 400 high-level representatives from the Turkish and American private and public sectors attended.
Speakers included Turkey’s Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkish Ambassador to Washington Sedat Önal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Burak Akçapar, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs John Bass, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Eximbank President Reta Jo Lewis, and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeffry L. Flake.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat highlighted the 70+ years of alliance between Turkey and the United States, emphasizing the value of the partnership. "We strongly believe in our shared interest to advance our bilateral relations in every possible area," Bolat stated.
During the Energy Panel, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar pointed out the numerous potential areas for collaboration between Turkey and the U.S. "As energy transformation becomes an undeniable reality of the industry, the number of fields for cooperation also increases. Renewable energy, critical minerals, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are among these areas," he remarked.
DEİK President Nail Olpak, in his opening speech, noted that the bond between Turkey and the U.S. goes beyond trade and investment, extending into strategic alliances. Recalling the 100-billion-dollar trade volume target set by the presidents of both countries, Olpak stressed the importance of concerted efforts to achieve this goal.
TAİK President Murat Özyeğin underscored that, as of 2021, the U.S. has become Turkey’s second-largest export market and fifth-largest source of imports. He also highlighted the U.S. as one of the top two foreign investors in Turkey and noted that Turkish private sector investments in the U.S. increased by $2.6 billion last year alone. "The trust built between the two nations underpins the success of our economic relations," Özyeğin said.
On the evening of the first day, a reception was held at the Turkish Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, hosted by Ambassador Sedat Önal. Attendees included Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeffry L. Flake, DEİK President Nail Olpak, TAİK President Murat Özyeğin, and representatives from the Turkish and U.S. business communities.
In his speech at the reception, Minister Bolat emphasized the commitment of both Turkish and U.S. governments to strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations. Ambassador Sedat Önal remarked on the enduring friendship and solidarity between Turkey and the U.S. as NATO allies. TAİK President Murat Özyeğin highlighted the significance of the private sector in Turkey-U.S. relations, discussing TAİK's working groups and state committee structures.
On the second day of the conference, U.S. Eximbank President Reta Jo Lewis discussed the importance of Turkish companies collaborating with American firms in global projects and benefiting from the potential opportunities and financing offered by the U.S. Eximbank.
ATBR President General James L. Jones emphasized the deep-rooted relationship between the U.S. and Turkey, built on shared values and mutual interests. "From diplomacy to trade, our nations have walked hand in hand, overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities together," he stated.
The two-day conference featured panels on Defense, Select Turkey, Energy, and Digital Technologies on the first day and Defense, Select USA, Tourism, and Infrastructure on the second day. These panels aimed to foster Turkey-U.S. bilateral economic and trade relations, in line with the conference's annual mission.
